Rapping is an interesting combination of speech, prose, poetry and singing and adds a fun element to the performance of the entertainer. His musical career has been marked by dramatic changes in styles, incorporating an eclectic range of influences including soul, baroque pop, electro, indie rock, Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. Widely regarded as the godfather of gangsta rap, Eazy-E was a rapper and record producer. In 1992 Erick went solo and has maintained a strong career as a producer and mc. An American rapper, singer, and songwriter, Megan Thee Stallion began rapping while she was still in her teens and used digital media platforms to promote her work. He attended Emerson Middle School and, eventually, Oak Park and River Forest High School for his freshman year. He rose to prominence as part of the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, which he Kanye Omari West (born June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer. One 6. Christopher Noel Dorsey (born September 3, 1980),[2] better known by his stage name B.G. signed Meek Mill to his first record Kool G Rap was born on July 20, 1964 in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. Including influential rappers and best-selling artists, this list features successful MCs who are still considered some of the hottest names in the game today. NBA YoungBoy is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. Her triple-platinum-certified debut album, Invasion of Privacy, topped the Billboard 200. He is also considered one of the most influential celebrities of his generation; such has been his impact on the music industry. But of course there's also an intangible element that elevates some modern rappers into the ranks of the greatest of all time. He was previously married to Ikesha Dudley. WebRapping (also rhyming, spitting, [1] emceeing [2] or MCing [2] [3]) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular", [4] which is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. He is also known as T.I.P. Actor | Get Rich or Die Tryin'. He was previously married to Liza Rios. He is best known for his chopper style of rapping and for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, Jay Wayne Jenkins, better known by his stage name Jeezy (formerly Young Jeezy), is an American rapper.In 1998, he launched the label imprint CTE World (then known as Corporate Thugz Entertainment). Travis Scott is a highly successful rapper, singer and songwriter. 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time (First 10 Revealed) Billboard and Vibe are counting down the best MCs ever in honor of hip-hop's 50th anniversary. He is commonly regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and often cited as one of the greatest rappers of all Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, media personality, entrepreneur, and actor.His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre and featured on Dre's solo debut, "Deep Cover", and then on Dre's solo debut album, The Chronic. 50 Cent. Method Man was born on March 2, 1971 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, USA. He is commonly regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and often cited as one of the greatest rappers of all 11. He is best known for his albums Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album. His family moved again in 1988 to Oakland, California. J.Cole) was originally born in Germany. He died on April 19, 2010 in Suffern, New York, USA. A successful transition into films and television soon followed and made Smith a phenomenal success. WebToday's richest rappers never started at the top. Also a philanthropist, Savage created the 21 Savage Bank Account Campaign to help kids learn how to make and save money. He is an actor and composer, known for Taken (2008), Suicide Squad (2016) and Prom Night (2008). He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot in 1998, to both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling 251,000 copies Germaine Williams a.k.a. Web11 Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter, known by his stage name JAY-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur and investor born on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York. Snoop Dogg. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics, from a radical left-wing perspective.Immortal Technique seeks to retain control over his production, and has Born to Jamaican parents in London, on January 14, 1965, Slick Rick, born Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters, is the most successful British-American rapper in music history. His mother, Beverly ( Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn (born November 20, 1983), better known by the stage name Future, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Anthony 'Treach' Criss was born on December 2, 1970 in East Orange, New Jersey, USA. He was known for his hit 1989 song "Just a Friend". From Jay-Z to Sean 'Diddy' Combs to Drake to Dr. Dre, whether east coast or west coast, gangster or indie rap, the highest paid rappers have earned their fortune through hard work, talent, and unmatched ambition. He debuted in 2005 with "Trap House" followed by "Hard to Kill" in 2006, "Trap-A-Thon" and "Back to the Trap House" in 2007. WebDwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. and Young Jeezy, particularly in the 2000s and 2010s. Buckshot is known for Nothing to Lose (1997), Kids (1995) and Notorious (2009). In 1990, he appeared on records by his close friend, Jas ("The Originators") and Original Flavor (" Eminem was born Marshall Bruce Mathers III in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Deborah R. (Nelson) and Marshall Bruce Mathers, Jr., who were in a band together, Daddy Warbucks. The Queen of Rap has also dabbled in acting and ventured into business. In 2008, Atlanta-based rapper T.I. Talent and trouble went hand in hand in Shakurs journey to fame; the higher Shakur rose in his iconic status, the deeper he became entangled in gang violence and an infamous rivalry, which sadly led to his untimely demise. Hailed as the leading figure of the emo rap scene of the mid-late 2010s, Lil Peep went on to inspire many youth subcultures. From old school to the current top rappers putting out today's biggest hip hop hits, this list counts down rap's best lyricists and game changers in history. In his personal life, he faced multiple legal issues from the beginning. Rocky released his debut mix-tape Live. Earlier, she gained recognition as member of Fugees, an award-winning hip hop group. The Top Ten 1 Eminem Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor and music producer born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri. In real life, he was a high school dropout at 16, and suffered Andr Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), better known as Andr 3000, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. With its unprecedented lyricism and complex rhyme patterns, the release, alongside a carefully T.I. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Her talent was appreciated by both fans and record labels and she eventually became the first female rapper to be signed by the American record label 300 Entertainment. In 2018, he donated $10,000 to fund an anti-bullying campaign in school. The Man with the Iron Fists. He was an actor and composer, known for That Awkward Moment (2014), Vacation (2015) and Life of the Party (2018). During 2005 to 2010, he released one extended play and four mix-tapes. Creative from a very young age, Kanye West dreamed of becoming a rapper since very early in his life. In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood". WebThere have been some notable rappers that have performed under their birth names like Tupac Shakur, Kanye West and Missy Elliott but they are much more the exception than the rule. Though his playing earned him scholarship offers from top colleges, Cam'ron was unable to take advantage of them Ludacris was born Christopher Brian Bridges in Champaign, Illinois, where he was raised, the son of Roberta Shields and Wayne Brian Bridges. He was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland and spent most of his life there before moving to Los Angeles in 2013. Rappers began gaining in popularity during the 1970s and from there rappings become a staple of Hip Hop music. Later, his two other albums Kirk and Blame It on Baby became huge successes and made him one of the biggest rappers in the US. WebList of kid rappers; List of fictional rappers; List of female rappers; List of female rappers and rap groups; List of Rappers and Rap Groups; List of Rap Groups; List of Rappers; List of DJs; List of Record Producers; List of Hip-Hop record labels; List of Albanian rappers; List of Algerian rappers africa; List of American rappers; List of Angolan rappers Africa Queen Latifah is an American musician and actress whose song U.N.I.T.Y. Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. He died on February 15, 1999 in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. The Kang gained credibility via the cosign of fellow kings such as Scarface and Bun B, but he still had to make good on the title. Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is of English, as well as some German, Scottish, and Swiss-German, ancestry. Possessing the most sampled voice in the history of hip-hop, Flavor Flav (along Roxanne Shant was born on November 9, 1969 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. Big Pun was born on November 9, 1971 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. Rapper, record producer, and audio engineer, Dr. Dre, is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. He attended Emerson Middle School and, eventually, Oak Park and River Forest High School for his freshman year. He is an actor and composer, known for Blade II (2002), Exit Wounds (2001) and Are We There Yet? Amongst the biggest rappers of all time, Eminem gained worldwide popularity with the release of albums like The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP. Before his death at the age of 26, Mac Miller had a major impact as a rapper and songwriter. Krayzie is known for his brisk,smooth song laced voice,and tongue-twisting, Gucci Mane is an American rapper. He is a music artist and actor, known for Free Guy (2021), Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) and American Honey (2016). Eric Lynn Wright, better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who performed solo and as a member of the group NWA Wright is affectionately called "The Godfather Of Gangsta Rap. He is an actor and composer, known for The Dirt (2019), Downfalls High (2021) and Captive State (2019). He was previously married to Sherlita Patton. (Rapper Well Known for His Depressing, and at Times Devastating Music), (One of the Most Influential and Popular Rappers of All Time), ( 100 Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone), (One of the Greatest and Most Influential Hip Hop Musicians of All Time), (One of the Best-Selling Music Artists With the Most Top 10 Singles on the Billboard Hot 100), Rapper Juice Wrld is best remembered for his tracks, (Rapper Known as the 'Godfather of Gangsta Rap'), (Rapper - Contributed Significantly to the Development of 'Gangsta Rap'), (One of the Greatest Rappers of All Time), (Regarded As One of the Greatest Rappers of All Time), (Rapper Known for His Debut Single "Money Longer"), (One of the Most Influential Hip-Hop Artists in History), (One of the Most Influential Rappers of His Generation), (Singer-Rapper Known for His Songs Black and Yellow, See You Again and Say Yeah), (One of the Most Influential and Greatest Rappers of All Time), (One of the Best-Selling Pop Singer-Songwriter and Has Won 10 Billboard Music Awards), (Rapper who Rose to Fame with His Debut Mixtape 'A Kid Named Cudi'), (The First Female Rapper to Achieve Multiple Diamond-Certified Songs by the RIAA), (For Her song "Candy" which set off the "Sweet Spot" viral dance on TikTok), (Rapper Known for His Albums 'Baby on Baby', 'Kirk' & 'Blame It on Baby'), (Rapper & Actor Known for His Album Incognegro and His Role in 'Fast & Furious' Series), (Rapper Known for His Debut Studio Album 'Blue Slide Park'), (Rapper, Record Producer, and Actor Who is One of the Highest Selling Hip-Hop Artists of All Time), (First Gay Artist To Have #1 Record on Billboard Hot 100), (The Second Female Rapper to Win Best New Artist at the Grammy's), (American rapper closely associated with Brooklyn drill), (A Leading Figure of the Midlate 2010s Emo Rap Scene), (One of the Greatest Rappers Of All Time), (Rapper Known for His 'Young Sinatra' Mixtape Series), Rapper and hip-hop artist Logic, earlier known as Psychological, initially gained fame with his, (Rapper and Singer Best Known for His Songs Murder on My Mind and Mixed Personalities), (Member of The Hip-Hop Collective 'A$AP Mob'). Eazy-E died at the age of 30 after being diagnosed with AIDS. WebToday's richest rappers never started at the top. He began a musical career and in 2000 he produced Power of the Dollar for Columbia Records, but days before the planned release he was shot and the album was never released. His debut album Reasonable Doubt was hugely successful in 1996 and since then he has gone on to release many more acclaimed and successful albums. His personal life was marred by depression, substance abuse, and legal issues. Robert Rihmeek Williams known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. The actor, rapper, writer and director, Donald Glover Jr became famous after playing the role of a college student In the sitcom, Community,from 2009 to 2013. He died on February 7, 2000 in White Plains, New York, USA. Run-DMC is regarded as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture and one of the most famous hip hop top 3 no doubt. played a major role in raising awareness about women's rights worldwide. While the members of the group have changed over time as members have left and unfortunately passed, the most famous members of the group include DJ Paul, Juicy J, Gangsta Boo, 7. Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He has been married to Tamika Smith since March 3, 2001. In real life, he was a high school dropout at 16, and suffered Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, media personality, entrepreneur, and actor.His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre and featured on Dre's solo debut, "Deep Cover", and then on Dre's solo debut album, The Chronic. [4] The components of rap include "content" (what is being said), "flow" ( rhythm, rhyme ), and He is commonly regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and often cited as one of the greatest rappers of all Jadakiss was born on May 22, 1975 in Yonkers, New York, USA. "He was born in Compton, California. He has also appeared on the show Method & Red, in HBO series such as Oz, and in several films. He is an actor and composer, known for It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010), Notorious (2009) and Krush Groove (1985). He is best known for being a part of southern hip hop duo Outkast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi.Benjamin has also acted in films and television series such Lawrence "Kris" Parker better known by his stage names KRS-One (an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper, lyricist and occasional producer from New York. He is commonly regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and often cited as one of the greatest rappers of all 21. After establishing himself in the music industry, he promoted the careers of many other rappers, including 2Pac and Snoop Dogg. He is an actor and producer, known for Venom (2018), xXx: State of the Union (2005) and Deadpool 2 (2018). In 2016, he was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list. His father was a Nutty Block Crip and his Pharoahe Monch was born on October 31, 1972 in Queens, New York, USA. Robert Rihmeek Williams known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. WebDwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith, Jr. Todd, as he was called, did not have a very happy childhood. The success of his mix-tape led to a record deal with Polo Grounds Music, RCA Records, and Sony Music Jeffrey Bruce Atkins better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper and actor. Apart from the double-murder charges, he is a suspect in the 2017 murder of a sheriff's deputy. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007. His drawing power was established virtually overnight when, in an earlier digital era, his 2006 label debut, "Hustlin'" became the 50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson) is an American rapper, actor, producer, and entrepreneur.He began a musical career and in 2000 he produced Power of the Dollar for Columbia Records, but days before the planned release he was shot and the album was never released. At nine years old, he started rapping. Finally, a definitive list of the best rappers of all time, ranked by fans all over the world. Project Pat Soundtrack | F9 Jay-Z is an American rapper and songwriter and is one of the world's best-selling music artists. Nate Dogg was born on August 19, 1969 in Long Beach, California, USA. Talib Kweli was born on October 3, 1975 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. [4] The components of rap include "content" (what is being said), "flow" ( rhythm, rhyme ), and Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith, Jr. Todd, as he was called, did not have a very happy childhood. Considered by many to be hip-hop's greatest producer, Dr. Dre (b. Andr Young, February 18, 1965) pioneered gangsta hip-hop and his own variation of the sound, dubbed G-Funk. XXXTentacion had a cult following among the youth owing to his depression and alienation thematic driven music. 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